What do you think about trash talking?

[13Seconds]

It seems when any fighter talks shit, the fanbase gets divided.

For me personally I like pre fight drama and shit talking, but there is a line. When that line is crossed you're just a piece of dodoo

 

[Get To Da Choppa]

It seems when any fighter talks shit, the fanbase gets divided.

For me personally I like pre fight drama and shit talking, but there is a line. When that line is crossed you're just a piece of dodoo

Trash talking is an essential part of prize fighting. A lot of the great ones are good at trash talking. Conor got to be the biggest UFC star because he was good in the cage and on the mic.

But a lot of guys are not good on the mic, and instead they come off as inauthentic and cringe. Except GSP. GSP's trash talk is awkward but memorable

 

[OldBoy91]

For me it's a bit of added flavour.

I can take or leave trash talk. I'm not one of those fans that cares more for outside drama or "star power" than the fights themself, nor am I one of those curmudgeons that thinks acting anything short of the perfect gentleman is killing the sport.

At the end of the day, I gravitate towards fighters for their personality AND their ability in the cage/ring.

The guys I like tend not to be the biggest trash talkers, but you bet I'll tune in when fighters get mouthy like everybody else does.

 

[TankAbbott4Eva]

If you're good at it do it (like McGregor, Chael) but if you're not just be respectful and fight your arse off (Rob Whittaker)

 

[Luthien]

If you can make me believe that the feud is real, then there is nothing like it

 

[Arm Barbarian]

I prefer less drama overall, but now and then it can be entertaining, especially when they are clever with the smack talk.

But in the end, I mainly care if it delivers in the cage.

 

[joy2day]

If it is especially witty, funny, or clever, it is entertaining; Ali made me laugh watching his antics as a kid. However, I can't think of a current MMA fighter that really fits this mold that is a trash talker. They come across the way most people do that talk that way- as trash.

I think these kinds of antics are amusing, like Tom Lawlor; that is pointedly different than your typical trash talk though.

 

[Gabe]

I like it when they’re good at it. Chael and Conor were good, Colby sucked at it. Jones is really good at it his trash talk of DC is legendary.

 

[KarateYeah]

I think it's trash

 

[Only Here for Attachments]

Lame as hell. If that's what people want, go watch WWE.

 

[Dana's Moonface]

Lame as hell. If that's what people want, go watch WWE.

This
At least old school wrassling had fun characters
These karate guys are boring

 

[JBJ was here]

Conor is probably one of the greatest at trash talking, but that wasn't the reason to his sucess.

On the contrary, Conor is a terrible trash talker, stuck on an eighth-grade-or-lower-level schoolyard, but his trash talk is the only reason he won the UFC Featherweight title. Sometimes even the most juvenile trash talk can get in an opponent's head.

 

[laleggenda27]

Trash talk doesn't impact my interest in watching a fight. If the trash talk is funny, then the buildup can be more fun...but it still doesn't affect my interest level.

And you can count on one hand the number of fighters who are actually good at trash talk. The rest I just ignore because it's really just embarrassing.

 

[Brigfa2]

Lame as hell. If that's what people want, go watch WWE.

Daddy Dana gives us that old school WWE trash talk, Vince is gone so we must protect him at all costs!

 

[Left Hook Lacy]

It's nice to see cool personalities start some banter. But most of these guys just make absolute douchebags of themselves when they try to talk trash.

 

[Clark Rogers]

For me personally I like pre fight drama and shit talking, but there is a line. When that line is crossed you're just a piece of dodoo

This.

I was an athlete, not a fighter, but I played a few different sports throughout... I get that trash talk is going to happen in any sport, hell it's fun when done right. There's an art. And it's strategic to an extent, you absolutely can get into some people's heads with it.

But that line, it can be crossed. Far as I'm concerned when you cross that, fair game, and not just in verbal barbs. Cross it too far and get popped, that's on you not me.

 

[sdpdude9]

In general, I can take it or leave it. I don’t really care for it but it doesn’t bother me either. The fights themselves are what I really care about. However over the top trash talk or forcing it too much is ridiculous and unnecessary.

 

[Cobra 03]

Some trash talk is fun, but when it involves fighters families or religion, its to much.

 

[Nizam al-Mulk]

Most of it is lame some of it is really good. I am fine with not doing being the norm with some deviations if it is good.

 

[Fedorgasm]

I hate it. It feels so fake and cringey.

And it cheapens the experience for when there is a real beef between fighters.

I thought it was funny when Jones tried to generate some fake beef by telling Stipe to stop talking about his kids, and Stipe refused to play along.

This is yet another reason why Fedor is the GOAT. He never felt the need to "sell" a fight by creating fake drama.